Written by Brandon Topp

As you become a more discerning cannabis user, you’ll discover that cannabinoids pave the way to grasping the curation of modern products.

Because CBG is considered “The Mother of All Cannabinoids,” it’s a great one to start with.

Throughout this in-depth guide, we’ll break down what CBG is, how biosynthesis connects it to key cannabinoids, how it relates to cannabis use, the non-psychoactive effects of CBG, and some relevant cannabis-derived products.

Discover a range of hemp-derived products at the Mood Shop today.

What’s A Cannabinoid?

In today’s fast-growing world of cannabis studies, with the constant increase in volume and variety of hemp-derived products, the term “cannabinoid” gets tossed around a lot.

Defining Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids like CBG are chemical compounds that connect with cannabinoid receptors in the body and brain. In addition to hundreds of other chemicals, the cannabis plant has been found to produce between 80 and 100 cannabinoids.

For those who don’t know, the human body has its own endocannabinoid system, which features a cannabinoid receptor (also known as CB receptors or CB2 receptors) that bonds with cannabinoids to deliver their effects to the central nervous system.

Cannabinoids can also evolve into new cannabinoids through a variety of processes, which is how CBG came to earn its maternal reputation.

Phytocannabinoids vs Endocannabinoids

Have you ever asked yourself, “What’s the difference between phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids?”

Now that we have a primer, it’s actually pretty easy to break down what these categories are and how they relate to the human body and its endocannabinoid system.

Braod spectrum phytocannabinoids like CBG are derived from a plant source, specifically the hemp plant.

Endocannabinoids are located within and throughout the human body, making up the endocannabinoid system we described above. “Endo” means within.

A Guide to Cannabigerol (CBG)

CBG is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that can be found in small amounts in raw cannabis. In its acidic form (CBGA), it acts as a precursor to other cannabinoids like broad spectrum CBD and THCa.

Lab professionals found that CBG oil can be extracted it in its purest form from broad-spectrum samples.

From there, scientists and consumers use and experiment with the cannabinoid to determine the effects of CBG.

We’re going to focus on CBG’s relationship with cannabis products like ours, but you can find a great breakdown of the potential benefits of CBG here.

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How CBG Becomes THCa

We’ll explain below in depth how CBG is present in higher volumes in younger plants.

As the plants age, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) naturally converts into THCa by a novel enzyme known as THCA synthase (Taura et al. 1995a).

In this case, one acidic precursor leads to another.

THCa becomes more potent when heated or smoked.

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How THCa Becomes More Potent

When you burn or heat THCa, it becomes more potent.

The “a” in “THCa” stands for “acid” because that’s its form.

Delta-9 THC

Cultivating cannabis products — i.e., cannabis flowers, concentrates, gummies, and edibles — with high concentrations of D9 THC has been a standard for growers, users, and dispensaries for a long time.

The level of D9 THC in a given product is actually what distinguishes it between being legally classified as “hemp” vs “marijuana.”

THC and The Farm Bill

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (The Farm Bill) took “hemp” off the federal government’s list of controlled substances. “Marijuana” remains on the list.

Check out the Mood Blog to do more research.

What’s the difference between “hemp” and “marijuana?”

According to the Farm Bill, “hemp” is cannabis with no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.

In regards to the cannabis plant’s other cannabinoids, there are no restrictions as to the level at which they can be present in flowers, gummies, edibles, or any other products.

Because THCa becomes more potent when heated, you can enjoy another positive effect of a hemp product that complies with the Farm Bill while relaxing and enjoying.

Consider the lifecycle of THCa the next time you kick back and enjoy:

• Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) exists in acid form in a young cannabis plant

• The plant ages and THCA synthase converts that CBGA into THCa and CBDa, or eventually THC and CBD

• The flowers or concentrates are cultivated to maintain a balance of THCa and other cannabinoids, keeping levels of THC in the dry product compliant with the Farm Bill

• The THCa-forward product is consumed — i.e., by vaping or smoking — and that primary cannabinoid becomes more potent. To smoke easier, learn how to clean a bowl today.

• THC cannabinoids enter the body and bond with CB2 cannabinoid receptors and the body’s nervous system to deliver its side effects

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How D9 THC Can Become Other Cannabinoids

If you think the amazing world of cannabinoid conversion and evolution stops there, you are mistaken.

When it comes to THC, its synthetic derivatives have helped pave the way for a modern cannabis culture that’s enriched with an abundance of variety.

Through processes like isomerization, THC can convert into major cannabinoids like:

• Delta-8 THC

• Delta-10 THC

• THCp

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Back To CBG

Considering the long chain of evolution, CBG can experience throughout the long life of a cannabis plant, its maternal reputation makes a lot of sense. And believe it or not, it doesn’t end there.

While its connection to the psychotropic cannabinoids we know and love, it also has a close relationship to CBD, which we know and love.

Cannabigerol (CBG) and Cannabidiol (CBD)

Remember above when we talked about how CBG exists in abundance in the young cannabis plant, but as it ages, it converts into THCa via THCa synthase?

That’s not the only cannabinoid that it evolves into.

It turns out there are also CBDa synthase enzymes, which take some of that CBG produced by the young plant and help it evolve into CBDa as the plant matures.

Cannabis professionals and users can then convert CBDa into CBD via a non-enzymatic decarboxylation. This is one of many similarities you can find between THC and CBD, despite their different reputations.

Find tinctures for THC and CBD at Mood's online dispensary.

CBG in Full-Spectrum Cannabis Products

CBG is related to psychotropic cannabinoids such as D9 THC, and it also remains present in small concentrations in full-spectrum cannabis products.

Despite not having psychoactive properties, the side effects of CBG are embedded in the cumulative taste and response you’ll get from enjoying flower, concentrates, edibles, and vape products.

The Entourage Effect

Technically a theory in the world of cannabinoid research, the entourage effect refers to the cumulative experience of consuming full-spectrum cannabis products.

While we take certain neutral cannabinoids and process them to develop products that feature them in higher concentrations, the natural cannabis plant features all of them scattered in mostly small concentrations.

Consuming a vape cartridge filled with distillate that’s over 90% THC is going to feel somewhat different than consuming one that features mostly Delta-8 THC, or a modest dose of one of the more psychoactive synthetic cannabinoids .

And in that vein, consuming holistic and full-spectrum concentrates, flowers, and edibles produces its own wholesome experience with what could be reasonably argued as the most complex flavor and terpene profiles, plus the most dynamic psychoactive and non psychoactive effects.

When you’re considering the entourage effect or seeking it out in a smoking, vaping, or eating experience, you’re seeking out all of the cannabinoids and the natural symphony they construct.

Those with a higher tolerance tend to prefer more potent strains for this type of cannabinoid research.

Also, remain open to the fact that we are all different, and everyone responds to specific cannabis products differently.

So when seeking the entourage effect, or a higher amounts of focus and dialed-in experience, always make sure to consider your tolerance, experience level, and personal comforts in addition to the pharmacology of the product.

Experienced cannabis users will have dependantly different experiences than newer ones, or those fresh off a T-break.

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How CBG Oil Is Made

CBG is being studied and explored as a leading cannabinoid for new products across a variety of industries.

The oil could theoretically be applied to cartridges, waxes, dab badders, and topical solutions.

CBG is present mainly in young cannabis plants and slowly converts to THCa and CBDa as it ages.

So when extracting it, cannabis scientists need to use fresh, young cannabis plants as their CBG-rich biomass starting points.

From there, the process is similar to creating THCa and other types of tetrahydrocannabinol THC oils and concentrates.

The plant material is soaked in a solvent. The most common solvents for CBG oil extraction are CO2 and ethanol. This pulls out unwanted terpenes and cannabinoids.

Fromthere, the material is filtered via heat, evaporation, and vacuum techniques to isolate and capture a product that’s mostly or purely CBG.

Learn More From the Mood Blog: A Guide To Live Resin vs Distillate: 5 Key Differences Explained

FAQs on CBG

Q: Is CBG legal?

CBG is legal. Hemp has been off the federal government’s list of controlled substances since the passing of the Farm Bill in 2018.

Cannabis products are considered hemp as long as they are no more than 0.3% D9 THC by dry weight.

This leaves room for the cultivation of a rich variety of CBG-forward products and full-spectrum cannabis products that comply with the Farm Bill.

Get 2g of THCa Tropical Storm Dab Badder for just $89 from the Mood Shop today. Subscribe and save 15%.

Q: Can CBG help with sleep?

We are not a wellness resource, so we cannot discuss CBG’s potential benefits.

It has been studied and explored for a range of potential uses.

Q: What’s the difference between CBG and CBD?

CBG is essentially a precursor to CBD. As the Cannabis sativa plant matures, its natural concentration of canabigerolic acid (CBGA) develops and converts into THCa and CBDa.

CBD can then be derived from CBDa via decarboxylation. Like CBD, CBG also derives from its acid forms.

For a thorough understanding, refer back to the section above entitled ‘Cannabigerol (CBG) and CBD.

Q: What’s the difference between CBG and CBC?

Like THCa and CBDa, CBCa is another cannabinoid that derives from aging CBG cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.

CBCa converts to CBC, which is another non-psychoactive cannabinoid that can be present in full-spectrum cannabis products and is the product of a range of studies across the scientific community.

Considered one of the minor cannabinoids among regular users, its relevance is growing the more it’s studied and highlighted in new cannabis products.

Q: What’s the difference between CBG and CBN?

Unlike CBG, cannabinol (CBN) is one of the cannabis plant’s many psychoactive minor cannabinoids.

Its positive side effects include calmness and mild euphoria that are less intense than those brought on by THC.

CBN is derived from the oxidation of THCa in aged cannabis. The process mainly includes exposing the plant cannabis sativa to direct sunlight to bring out more CBN.

Because THCa derives from CBG, and CBN derives from THCa — this is another branch on the cannabinoid family tree that has CBG sitting right on the top.

Q: What’s the difference between CBG and CBDv?

Cannabidivarin is another non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant.

It’s considered an analog or a variant of CBD and has only been known by scientists since 1969.

So, in comparison to CBG, CBDv is another derivative that lacks psychoactive effects and is studied by scientists for other potential therapeutic effects.

Q: Does CBG get you high?

A: Directly speaking, no. CBG is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid. In terms of extracts, CBG oils aren’t generally intended to get users high.

Indirectly, CBG can be linked to a lot of the good times cannabis users have had over the centuries. There are two reasons why.

The first reason why CBG can be indirectly linked to high times is because of its maternal relationship to THCa.

And then D9 THC’s relationship to other variations of psychoactive cannabinoids like Delta-8 THC and Delta-10 THC adds to CBG’s web of influence.

The second reason why you can link CBG's potential role to the experience of consuming cannabis is because of the entourage effect.

When you consume full-spectrum cannabis products, you are taking in the combined effects of cannabinoids within them, which interact with your CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors when you consume them.

So trace elements of CBG are present in THCa-forward products to play a role in the overall experience.

Q: Where can I buy full-spectrum cannabis products online?

Finding full-spectrum cannabis products isn’t as straightforward as it used to be.

Finding a distributor with transparent cultivation and production practices is the first step to ensuring you’re buying a full-spectrum product.

Mood, for example, offers a certificate of analysis with every product to demonstrate how it’s been tested by third-party labs to meet federal legal and health standards.

We also list the cannabinoids featured in our products, so you can seek out concentrated or more dynamic experiences.

We’re lucky to live in a time when there’s a seemingly endless range of concentrates and edibles that are designed to highlight specific cannabinoids to either tailor psychoactive effects of cannabinoids or remove them altogether.

For those who appreciate the flavor and cumulative effects of full-spectrum cannabis products, we recommend exploring the wide range of cannabis flower, live-resin vapes and concentrates available with Mood.

For those who appreciate the positive effect of flower, pick up an eighth of Dante’s Inferno from the Mood Shop for only $54 today. Subscribe and save 15%.

Concentrates and Vapes From The Mood Shop

After all of this talk about the mother of all cannabinoids, you might feel ready to experiment with some products that descend from CBG.

Let’s take a look at some of our vapes and concentrates featuring cannabinoids such as THCa, HHC, THCp, and CBD.

THCa Badder For Your Dab Rig

THCa’s connection to CBG might interest you. A dab rig is a great way to try it out for yourself. The whipped, buttery consistency of the dab weed makes it smooth to hit, whether with a rig, via a vape pen, or on top of some sticky cannabis buds.

Get 1g of this THCa Ice Queen Dab Badder for just $49 from the Mood Shop today. Subscribe and save 15%.

Moonrocks: The Caviar Of Cannabis

The perfect product for lovers of flowers and concentrates alike — these THCa Moonrocks feature a core of THCa flowers. That ball of flowers comes coated in sticky distillate and then covered in soothing CBD kief.

For a classic high, get an eighth of these THCa Moonrocks for just $49 from the Mood Shop today. Subscribe and save 15%.

THCa Disposable Vapes

Mood’s selection of disposable THCa vapes is designed to be flavorful, highly potent, and easy to use. This particular one features just under 53% THCa and 17% CBD. Its Afghani Kush base provides a rich, earthy flavor complemented by flowery cannabis aromatics that you know and love.

Get a 1g THCa Purple Afghani Disposable Vape for just $60 from the Mood Shop today. Subscribe and save 15%.

Check out more hemp-derived products at the Mood Shop.

Prices subject to change.